Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

 nth-Term Formulas
 Sum Formulas for Finite Arithmetic Series
 Sum Formulas for Finite Geometric Series
 Sum Formulas for Infinite Geometric Series
 Applications
 Arithmetic Sequence

A sequence of numbers

a1, a2, a3, … an, …

is called an arithmetic sequence if there is a

constant d, called the common difference, such that

an – an – 1 = d

That is, an = an – 1 + d
 Geometric Sequence

A sequence of numbers

a1, a2, a3, … an, …

is called a geometric sequence if there exists a

nonzero constant r, called a common ratio, such that
an
r
an1
That is, an = ran – 1 for every n > 1
Arithmetic or Geometric Sequence

Which of the following can be the first four terms of an

arithmetic sequence? Of a geometric sequence?

A. 1, 2, 3, 5,... No common difference nor common ratio so

it’s neither arithmetic or geometric
B.  1, 3, 9, 27,... Common ratio is –3 so it’s geometric.
It is not arithmetic.

C. 3, 3, 3, 3,... Common difference is 0, common ratio is 1,

it’s arithmetic and geometric.
D. 10, 8.5, 7, 5.5,... Common difference is –1.5 so it’s
arithmetic. It is not geometric.
 nth-Term Formulas

nth Term of an Arithmetic Sequence

an  a1  n  1d for all n  1

nth Term of a Geometric Sequence

an  a1r n1 for all n  1

Arithmetic and Geometric Sequence

(A) If the 1st and 10th terms of an arithmetic sequence are 3

and 30, respectively, find the 40th term of the sequence.

an  a1  n  1d
a10  a1  10  1d
30  3  9d
d3

Now find a40  3  39  3  120

Arithmetic and Geometric Sequence

(B) If the 1st and 10th terms of a geometric sequence are

3 and 30, find the 40th term to three decimal places.
an  a1r n1
a10  a1r101
30  3r 9
r 9  10
r  101 9


Now find a40  3 10 
1 9 39
 
 3 10 39 9  64, 633.041
Sum Formulas Finite Arithmetic Series

Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Sequence First Form

n
Sn   2a1  n  1d 
2

Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Sequence Second Form

n
Sn  a1  a2 
2
Sum Formulas Finite Arithmetic Series

Find the sum of the first 30 terms in the arithmetic sequence:

3, 8, 13, 18, . . .

30
S30   2  3  30  15   2, 265
2

Find the sum of all the even numbers between 31 and 87.

an  a1  n  1d n
Sn  a1  a2 
2
86  32  n  12
28
n  28 S28  32  86   1, 652
2
Sum Formulas Finite Geometric Series

Sum of a Finite Geometric Sequence: First Form

Sn 
 
a1 r n  1
r 1
r 1

Sum of a Finite Geometric Sequence: Second Form

ran  a1
Sn  r 1
r 1
Sum Formulas Finite Geometric Series

Find the sum of the first eight terms of the geometric sequence:
100, 100(1.08), 100(1.08)2, . . .

Sn 
 
a1 r n  1
r 1

S10 

1 1.0510  1 
1.05  1
0.6289
Sn   12.58
0.05
Sum Formula Infinite Geometric Series

a1
S  1  r  1
1 r

If r ≤ –1 or r ≥ 1, then an infinite geometric series has

no sum.
 Economy Stimulation

The government has decided on a tax rebate program to

stimulate the economy. Suppose that you receive $1,200
and you spend 80% of this, and each of the people who
receive what you spend also spend 80% of what they
receive, and this process continues without end.
According to the multiplier principle in economics, the
effect of your $1,200 tax rebate on the economy is
multiplied many times. What is the total amount spent if
the process continues as indicated?
 Economy Stimulation

We need to find the sum of an infinite geometric series with

the first amount spent being a1 = (0.8)($1,200) = $960 and r =
0.8.
a1
S 
1 r
$960
  $4, 800
1  0.8
Assuming the process continues as indicated, we would
expect the $1,200 tax rebate to result in about $4,800 of
spending.